vy ss BF coolant leak

[rydogz]

Last week my car started leaking coolant luckily very close to home, I could see it dripping fast from the front of the block near the water pump.

I took the radiator out today thinking it will simply be a gasket or the pump itself but once I got my head in there the thermostat gasket was clean no signs of crusty coolant crap on the gasket.

It had FA coolant left in it (~1L) and has leaked from being 3 inches down on the reservoir to bext to nothing of 7 days of sitting in the driveway so why I cant see it is confusing me.

Could it be leaking from a welch plug also?

I did notice coolant in a cavity on the front of the block I will try and load a picture off my phone shortly. If you put your hand thru the drive belt and piut your hand behind the pump it is wet to touch but how could nearly all the coolant drain from there its too high?

Any advice other than "use search you wanker" would be greatly appreciated.

[Vt_vic]

could be you tanks but there to the side of the radiator

[Dr HaxZaw]

could be a cracked hose. i had one and it looked like it was leaking from the pump but it was cracked underneath the hose clamp. its only 2 mins to pull it off and check so thats where id start

[rydogz]

Unfortuately its not a hose and the as I said I have taken the radiator out and had a good look at that...

Putting the radiator back in now and going to run her with demineralized water and watch like a hawk.

I'll let you know in an hour...

[rydogz]

Leaking from the front of the block above the middle of three small pulleys on the left looking into the bonnet from that cavity behind the water pump.

Is it the gasket or the tell tale hole on the water pump?

Anyone got a photo of the hole?

Cheers.

[Dr HaxZaw]

it could also be the seals on your water pump... got them done about six months ago and if its coming from the left side of the block id be def having a look at the water pump

[rydogz]

[rydogz]

I finally found the cable for my phone, this is a picture of the leak.

[colgf]

I finally found the cable for my phone, this is a picture of the leak.

It is definitely the water pump , had exactly the same leak on my 2005 CV8Z monaro. It leaked only after turning off motor after a run , the pressure builds up & water was forced past the thin wall of the water pump between gasket & it and engine block , buy a good quality water pump , up for $300 at least for a good one , Make sure you buy quality coolant too. Bugger of a job to remove radiator & fans & belts but after that all easy , buy new belts & hoses at same time......

[rydogz]

Cheers for the reply. If its leaking from the gasket between the pump and the block but NOT the weep hole is the pump actually rooted or can I just get the gasket?

Already have the radiator out thats the easy part, drive belt will be a pain in the arse.

Does the water pump come with a new thermostat and/or thermostat housing/gasket or is it separate?

[ARATIC]

I think mine is seeping in the same place, but its intermitant sometimes it does and sometimes it doesnt. Wondered if its just the gasket also, but you'd be annoyed if you went to all that trouble replaced the gasket and it still leaked.

Drive belt is very easy, the tensioner is spring mounted and once the slack is loosened the belt will fall off. 2 min job.

If you buy a WP off ebay, then it wont come with the thermostat and housing. I have heard not to bother with non genuine pumps though as they never last. Geniune they are pricey though, around $500 inc thermo and housing!

Also cant this job be done without removing the radiator? There seems to be loads of space to pull the pump out

[rydogz]

ah k same as my old falcon didnt notice a tensioner, is it a 3/8 or 1/2 drive ratchet style one(its dark and the car is covered lol)?

I agree with it would be annoying, Last time i bought a part off ebay it was ####ed and I had to do it again, might get one from repco. Will at the least have a look at the thermostat anyway.

It is odd though it literally drains the block in 5 mins from that gasket and not the weep hole...

Going to have a go on the wkend I post some pics hopefully no ranting haha.

Cheers.

[ARATIC]

The tensioner takes a 15mm ring spanner, push to the passenger side to remove the slack.

So you've already done the waterpump? If you dont want to do it again, get a genuine pump. The Repco or Bursons pumps will be (are) no better than the ebay ones.

Genuine GM pumps can be bought off ebay usa for $175 + shipping

[rydogz]

No I was referring to my old car with the ebay comment. Where can I get a non shit one then lol

[ARATIC]

Holden or ebay usa. I'm trying to find out whether the pumps from ebay usa have the same part no as the genuine Holden ones sold here. I think they are as they are for a Pontiac GTO, which is just a rebadged Commodore.

[rydogz]

Fair enough, I can't decide whether to replace the pump or not as it isn't physically leaking and more money means more to me than less money. I hate cooling systems, they plague every car I have owned.

[rydogz]

A few photos of the leak:

The leaking passenger side gasket:



The full view:



The drivers side gasket:



Passenger side gasket close up:



The impeller seal:



Changing the pump today, took the old one out yesterday afternoon but ran out of day light. Will post some more pics soon. Bought the pump and shit and forgot the RTV

[ARATIC]

Probably a good idea just to change the waterpump. Even though it looks clean and the gasket is at fault, the waterpump might have become warped where it bolts onto the block

[rydogz]

2 Final questions: Does anyone use those radiator pellets and what are the pump to block bolts torque specifications?

Gregorys says step one 15nm and step 2 25nm....wtf does that mean is it 15 or 25?